Show Preview: Ty Segall w/ Wand & Flesh Wounds at Motorco Music Hall

Ty Segall performs at Motorco Music Hall
on Sunday, Sept. 14 w/ Wand & Flesh Wounds

It's basically reached the point where the term "garage rock" has become synonymous with Ty Segall for me. With an insane amount of turnover, Segall has been churning out excellent album after excellent album for the past few years now and he's shown little signs of slowing down. Before Manipulator, his most recent release on Drag City, it had been 14 months since we received new music from Segall.

Usually one would balk at the insinuation that 14 months is a long wait between albums, but this is coming from the guy that put out four freakin' records last year, all of them ridiculously impressive. This manic garage savant may have slowed his frighteningly swift pace of production, but his output is just as impressive as always. If not more so frankly. Manipulation is by no means a slow-rolling record, but there's a lot more definition packed into these emotionally dense, high-energy tracks.

Thus, one could expect that Segall will be laying it all on the line this Sunday night at their sold-out Motorco show. The night is filled with brilliant, balls to the wall punk music that will leave this garage-esque venue damp and sweaty from all of the ridiculous attempts at moshing, crowd surfing and any other ridiculously amped crowd reaction you can imagine. Segall leads the crowd's antics like a composer, his heartfelt songs bursting forth from their amplifiers physically effects these concertgoers. It compels you to manically bob your head, smack your hands on your pockets like you'd actually know what the hell you'd be doing behind a drum set, and generally experience some cathartic sense of relief. There's just something about losing your mind at a punk show that leaves you feeling reinvigorated, ready to tackle the dull 9-to-5 that you may be headed to early on Monday morning. That's what makes this show at this seldom visited venue for myself, such an incredible outing.

Since Motorco opened it's been a vastly underutilized venue, but when the big names come through it kind of makes you scratch your head and wonder why the hell this venue hasn't taken off in a huge way. Having Flesh Wounds open the show as well just makes the night even sweeter. In recent months the band has been picking up a lot of steam after a quiet year in 2013, with a 7" release on Merge and some rave reviews from their manic energy at Hopscotch, they'll likely be permeating the frenetic vibes to get concertgoers prepped for their highly anticipated headliner later in the evening. But if Segall doesn't bring his "A" game it could be easy for these openers to steal the show, making it all the more exciting to see exactly how wild this show will truly get.

Check out Segall's recent performance on Conan O'Brien below:

Show Review: FUZZ w/ CCR Headcleaner and Big No

FUZZ at Kings Barcade
Photos and Write-up by Anastassia Olegovna

As predicted, Fuzz, CCR Headcleaner and Big No actually damaged my hearing and almost led me to wear a neck brace for a few days. But why would any one expect anything less from a band associated with Ty Segall’s name?  Although Fuzz arrived late and the show started about an hour later than it should have, the tension and awkwardness of waiting around for them was dissipated very quickly.

Big No started out the night, facing a crowd of well dressed people who looked like they could all be in bands, and probably were. Although a fairly young band, Big No proved that they could reign in the ranks of the loud sludge-garage bands. I was pleasantly surprised because Big No definitely sounds more aggressive and loud live, a quality that I admire in bands. The songs weren’t too long and it didn’t feel like a chore seeing this first band open up. 





CCR Headcleaner
Photo by Anastassia Olegovna

Next CCR Headcleaner restored all my faith in finding a metal band that I actually like. They trudged through a sludge-metal set that I’ve never experienced. The band looked like a combination of The New York Dolls and The Clash but the sound they were producing was very far from punk. The music hung in the air like heavy smoke, a very loud cloud of it. I wasn’t surprised that this would be an opener for Ty’s new project but I was intrigued to see the kind of audience that bands like these bring out.


Finally, Fuzz came on, with Ty positioned front and center. The energy that Ty and every band he gathers put out is truly incredible. I can’t be too sure if I like Fuzz because they are a Ty Segall project or because I really do like the music but Fuzz is definitely a band that you and your Black Sabbath loving dad could seriously bond over. Fuzz channels stoner-metal of 1970s perfectly. While the guitar riffs and the drum patterns can be too familiar at times, there is a pleasant familiarity that presides in all the songs and that is irresistibly insane. No matter how hard I tried to not convulse and head-bang, Fuzz won over my controlling mind.

Show Preview: FUZZ w/ CCR Headcleaner and Big No

FUZZ will be performing at Kings Barcade in Raleigh, NC
on Oct. 10 w/ CCR Headcleaner and Big No
Preview by Anastassia Olegovna

The heart of fall is coming up and I honestly think this is the best time to go to shows in North Carolina. Everyone thinks that summer is the time when bands tour but I’ve found that all of my favorite bands tour in the fall, which is either a weird coincidence or there’s some secret organization behind this.

If you are looking for a quiet way to pass the time look to another place, because on October 10th FUZZ, CCR Headcleaner and Big No will not spare your eardrums. 

Big No is a fairly unknown band hailing from San Francisco by way of Richmond, creating dark, manic pop songs that are understated and out-of-your-mind lo fi. Nathan Grice, the man behind the band, sings heartfelt songs that are borderline garage, laced with sugary-pop synths that create a unique sound in the midst of the Bay Area garage scene.

The San Francisco trend continues with CCR Headcleaner, the second opener for FUZZ. Don’t be fooled though, CCR Headcleaner is not just another California band but one that has its roots set in Georgia, Maine, and Washington, bridging the garage rock gap between the East and West coast in the heart of the Bay Area. They proudly boast a “not giving a damn” attitude backed by their noisy, destructive, psych and punk sound with a premeditated readiness to get real weird.

Finally, FUZZ headlines the show with a band name that should already give you an idea of what you’re in store for. FUZZ is the brainchild of the San Francisco garage rock genius, Ty Segall, and Charles Mootheart, who plays in Ty’s live band. (with Roland Cosio on bass) Segall, taking a break from the spotlight of his two other ongoing projects, Ty Segall and Ty Segall band, situates himself on the drums. Don’t expect him to sit there and haphazardly beat the drums, instead expect insanity and psyched-out drum solos. In fact don’t go expecting anything that might color Ty’s previous work because FUZZ sounds more like Black Sabbath and a heavier version of Ty Segall Band’s Slaughterhouse. Mootheart and Segall trade off vocals over fuzzed-out psychedelic rock and roll that distorts reality and may cause spinal injuries because you will not be able to stop yourself from lurching into the band’s madness headfirst.

Doors open at 8:30 pm and the show starts at 9:00. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Hear Here: January 25 - January 31

Finally, Hear Here has returned!  In case you're not familiar with our old series, Hear Here is a weekly feature that highlights all of our favorite upcoming shows around North Carolina with a strong focus in the Triangle.  This week is absolutely packed with phenomenal shows, from indie legends to rising stars, the tobacco state sees one of the strongest day-to-day schedules we've seen in a while.  From the frenetic garage masterpieces put out by the prolific Ty Segal to the transcendental folk tunes of the reclusive Jeff Mangum, there's a bit of something for everyone within this batch of shows.

Show of the Week: Jeff Mangum w/ Tall Firs @ Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington, NC